Senator Corker, Colleagues Urge President Obama To Personally Engage On Congolese Adoption Delays

Friday, July 18, 2014

In a letter to President Barack Obama, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined 167 members of Congress in asking the president for his “personal engagement to resolve over 900 international adoption cases of Congolese children who either have been or are in the process of being adopted by American families, yet who are unable to obtain Congolese exit permits due to a suspension in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).”

“We respectfully request that you raise this human rights crisis with President Kabila prior to his attendance at the U.S.-African Leaders Summit next month, and then use the opportunity of the summit to press for a firm resolution,” wrote the members of Congress. “We would appreciate your leadership on this issue to help unite these children and their families.”

In September 2013, the DRC suspended the issuance of exit permits for children adopted by foreign parents. Over 145 children who have been legally adopted by U.S. families and have been given Congolese passports and U.S. visas await exit letters, including several children with urgent, life-threatening medical problems.

6,000 adoptions from six mother and baby homes across 23 years

Records of placements show children being sent to US, Britain and Germany

The Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, Tipperary, a mother and baby home run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary from 1930 to 1970. Records show that between April 1st, 1960, and March 31st, 1967, of the 634 children adopted then, 111 went to the US, nine to England and two to Scotland. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA

The Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, Tipperary, a mother and baby home run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary from 1930 to 1970. Records show that between April 1st, 1960, and March 31st, 1967, of the 634 children adopted then, 111 went to the US, nine to England and two to Scotland. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA

Pamela Duncan

Irish gov confirms 2,000 babies illegally sent to US for adoption

Kate Hickey @KateHickey_ July 17,2014 01:14 AM

The Irish government has confirmed that the remains of almost 500 “unclaimed” infants were used for medical examinations and nearly 2,000 were put up for adoption in the United States.

A document released by the government also shows that the remains of 474 babies were sent to medical schools between 1940 and 1965, without the consent of their families.

The report also shows that of the nearly 2,000 children sent to the United States for adoption there are few or no records of parental consent. Many were apparently sold to wealthy Catholic families.

Dina McQueen Become a fan

Writer/Editor

Why Have a Birth Family Search Conducted?

Posted: 07/16/2014 11:49 am EDT Updated: 07/16/2014 5:59 pm EDT Print Article

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Contributing to EU Human Rights Dialogue with Ukraine

Halya Postoliuk

The Opening Doors campaign recently participated in the EU-Ukraine Human Rights Dialogue, a regular dialogue between the Government of Ukraine and the EU’s European External Action Service (EEAS).

Ahead of the official talks between the Government and the EEAS, Halya Postoliuk of Hope and Homes for Children Ukraine, national coordinator for the Opening Doors campaign, attended a meeting with the EEAS and civil society representatives in Brussels to update officials on the situation of children in institutional care in Ukraine and the challenges to ending institutional care in Ukraine.

In spite of a policy framework to support deinstitutionalisation (DI), Ukraine lacks the clear strategy needed to implement reform and approximately 80,000 children are in institutional care nationally – one of the highest numbers in Europe.

From: Irina Papancheva [mailto:Irina.Papancheva@lumos.org.uk]

Sent: Monday, July 07, 2014 5:17 PM

To: BURLEA Ana-Maria (ELARG)

Subject: Invitation to Working Group meeting, 14 July 2014

Importance: High

. . . 

Burundi/Italie : Convention de coopération avec l’ONG Amici DEI Bambini

Création : 13 Juillet 2014

Publication : 13 Juillet 2014

Bujumbura, 4 déc.-13 (DWG) : Le Gouvernement de la République du Burundi, représenté par le Ministre des Relations Extérieures et de la Coopération Internationale, S.E.M Laurent KAVAKURE, et l’Organisation Non Gouvernementale d’origine Italienne Amici Dei Bambini (Amis de Dieu et des Enfants), Représenté par son Directeur Exécutif Monsieur Marco GRIFFINI, ont procédé ce mardi 3 décembre 2013, à la signature d’une convention de coopération.

En effet, cette ONG Amici Dei Bambini cherche à aider les enfants en difficulté en leur proposant des parents d’adoption en Europe ou en soutenant les orphelinats. Elle va démarrer ses activités au Burundi et compte voler au secours des enfants et appuyer les orphelinats.

Shareable link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1K-SPDTr-gKOH0MI41Cut_7Y_K8yEUPkD

Children's homes were 'supply line' for paedophiles, says ex-minister

Lord Warner says an inquiry he conducted in 1992 showed how children's homes were targeted by powerful people

Nicholas Watt and Patrick Wintour

theguardian.com, Tuesday 8 July 2014 09.58 BST

Link to video: Miliband: 'government slow and piecemeal' over child abuse inquiry